by Keith Gisser, publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — The weather was perfect at Northfield Saturday night (Sept. 5) and the racing was nearly as good as the track hosted the $800,000 Ohio Super Night in front of a huge crowd, buoyed by the weather and a mystery mutuel voucher promotion.

The evening started with a pair of victorious 1-9 2-year-old fillies dominating the competition. Daryl Sherman’s Jesse’s Messenger, a Jailhouse Jesse filly, remained undefeated with a gutsy 1:58.3 win in the filly trot. Sent to the front by Ryan Stahl, she was actually headed by top challenger Victory Is Coming at the three-quarters, but rallied for the win. Kent Sherman trains the winner who is now a perfect seven-for-seven with $108,750 in the bank. Victory Is Coming held on for the place money and Photo Spur was third.

The $80,000 freshman filly pace went to undefeated Hawk’s Cry Electra in 1:55.2. Now a perfect six-for-six in her career, with earnings of $97,800 for owner Joseph Muscara, there was never an anxious moment for driver Chris Page, who steered the daughter of Mantacular for trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. Up Front Cruiser was second and Lullaby Til Dawn was third.

The 2-year-old colt trot went to the Jailhouse Jesse colt Cool Colby ($2.40) in a track record 1:58.1. Driven by Dave Palone for trainer Jim Dailey and owners Keith Ross and Kim Dailey, Cool Colby moved past early leader Chipariffic at the :28.4 quarter and cruised from there. Chipariffic was second and Cool Colby’s stablemate Rose Run Legend was third. Cool Colby is now six of eight in his career and has earned $83,827.

Trick Man ($10.80) won the $80,000 2-year-old colt trot in 1:54.3, taking control at the quarter and holding off challeneges from B N Bad and Doc’s Yankee. Trainer Ray Paver drove the Mantacular colt for Knox Services. The win, a lifetime best, was his third in six starts and pushed his earnings to $68,250. Stand Tough was second, after holding the lead early, and Doc’s Yankee closed from way back for the show spot.

The 3-year-old Sires Stakes Championships began with the trotting colts chasing $80,000. A well balanced group saw several lead changes as 20-1 Iliketherain attempted to bottom out the field. Sharp Action got to him at three-quarters, but it was Dave Palone and B Contemporary ($4.80) who got to the wire first in 1:58. Sharp Action held off a fast closing Gold’n Chip Chip for the place position. Trainer Jim Dailey and co-owner Kim Dailey got their second Sires wins of the night. Paul Theising shares title to the Pegasus Spur gelding.

Mystique Cruiser ($10.80) took pressure throughout in his 1:53.1 Ohio Sires Championship win against the 3-year-old pacing colts, but emerged victorious when Dance With Dan, who had challenged from the half, made a break at the top of the stretch, and the other closers were unable to rally. Kyle Ater drove the winning Yankee Cruiser gelding for Green Racing, Larry Baron and trainer Dan Ater. The win was his sixth this year and pushed his lifetime earnings to $127,166. Cruisin Sage was second and Max’s Cruiser completed the $451.00 Yankee Cruiser-sired trifecta.

The $80,000 sophomore filly trot saw Curly Top ($14.60) pull an upset after surviving an inquiry in 1:57.3. Aaron Merriman waited patiently as Fox Avenue Mom did most of the work and then Rose Run Keepsake took control, but his filly exploded in the stretch to blow by and win in a lifetime best. Rose run Keepsake was second and Northmedo Esther finished third. Jerry Lighthill owns and trains the winner, an Emile Angus filly, who more than doubled her career earnings with the win.

In the final $80,000 Sires Championship, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Best Of Ball ($3.00) took home the cash and the trophy with a 1:52.4 effort, just one fifth of a second off the track mark. Dave Palone picked up yet another win with the Jim Dailey-trainee, who is seven of eight this year and has banked $92,137 of her career $200,405 in 2009. Lavish Liz was second and Jellyfish Joy finished third. Down The Lane Stable owns the daughter of Presidental Ball.

Also on the card were the Scarlet And Gray Stakes for veteran Ohio-bred horses. The $39,500 mare trot went to Tom’s OK Lady ($2.40) in a track record for older mares of 1:56. Whotookwhat, the previous record holder was second and Winnie The Who was third. Dave Palone drove Tom’s OK Lady for trainer Ron Burke, and owners Burke Racing, M1 Stable, Weaver Bruscemi Llc and Bethann Palone.

The Scarlet and Gray mare pace, with a purse of $42,500, went to Osborne’s Gypsy ($3.80) in a tight photo with Don’t Blame Her. The 1:52.4 mile was just one-fifth of a second off the track standard. Aaron Merriman drove the winner, a 5-year-old mare by On The Attack from the stellar broodmare Myopia’s Mop, for trainer Eric Hamlet and owner Jerry Osborne. Cruzin Inya Jammies was third. Osborne’s Gypsy has now earned over $404,000 in her career.

The older boys competed in Scarlet And Gray Stakes as well, with the trotters competing for $46,000. Michaelrowyourboat ($3.60) collared leader Master Begonia in the stretch to post a 1:54.4 win, just one fifth of a second off Blastaway Sahbra’s track and world record. Flowing James, a stablemate of the winner, was third. Flowing Mineral Farms owns the winner, a 4-year-old Victory Sam gelding, who is trained and driven by Jimmy Smith.

The final stakes event of the evening was the $48,000 Scarlet And Gray horse pace and it was won by Stringtowner ($5.20), who put away leader B T Attack around the final turn to win in 1:52.2, his ninth win in 30 seasonal starts. Chris Page drove the winner, an 8-year-old Towner’s Big Guy gelding, for owner Chuck Grubbs and trainer Steve Carter. B T Attack held second, while Noble Cruiser closed with a furious rush to finish third.